How to paint a helmet flat black

Sarah Freeman Updated November 21, 2016

Whether it's for motorcycle riding or football practice, a helmet not only keeps you safe but can also add some personal style to a hobby. Customising a helmet with professionals can be expensive, with some paint jobs costing up to £292. Yet with the right supplies and paint, as well as some patience, anyone can paint their helmet flat black on their own. Everything you'll need should be found at a local hardware store.

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Remove any face masks, straps or screws from the helmet. Save all the parts to reapply later.

Clean the surface of the helmet. You may need to use a commercial wax or grease remover, which can be bought at an automotive paint supply store or hardware store.

Sand the helmet's surface to remove the clear coating. If the helmet hasn't been painted before, you can skip this step. Sanding can be done with an electric sander or by hand. Once it's sanded, make sure to clean off any dust.

Tape off any areas of the helmet you don't want to paint. This should include any fabric.

Paint the helmet with a flat black acrylic enamel paint. If you bought the paint in a can, use a paint brush to apply it to the helmet. The paint also comes in a spray bottle, which you can spray to apply. Whichever method you use, make sure to apply the paint in thin coats to ensure it doesn't make any drip lines.

Apply several coats of the paint until it reaches the desired darkness of flat black.

Apply a matt or transparent finish to the helmet once the flat black paint has dried. This will protect the new coat of paint. Avoid using a glossy finish, as this will take away from the flat black effect.

Remove the tape from the helmet and reapply any screws or parts you've taken off.